Basic auto insurance is made up of coverages. The
major components are:
Collision: This is the part of your
policy that pays to get your car repaired after a collision, regardless
of just who hit what or how. It is collision insurance that will get your
insurance company to seek out another driver's insurance company to pay
for repairs if they were at fault. A deductible amount will apply: that's
the amount you pay for the fixing before the insurance company pays the
rest.
Liability: If you are at fault in an
accident it covers the injuries and damage you cause to other drivers
and their cars. If you are taken to court this part of your insurance
will apply to your legal costs. Most states require this one, but the
amount required varies from state to state.
Comprehensive: Coverage for damages to your car caused by something other
than a crash. A vandal breaks in, a tree falls on it or floodwaters engulf
it. Again, a deductible is applied.
Plus, you can also get policies that help pay medical bills after accidents,
including injuries to people in your own car if you were at fault. And
there is coverage for your car if damage is caused by another vehicle
that was not covered by its own insurance. This "uninsured driver"
insurance is often required by state law.
You can also find a policy that will cover amounts that are more than
the other driver's insurance will pay if they were at fault (they are
considered "underinsured" drivers).
Gap insurance must also be considered,
and may be required with a leasing or finance deal. It will pay the difference
between what other policies have paid out and the amount you owe on the
vehicle should it be wrecked or stolen.
Leasing or financing requirements
When you lease or finance a car you may have to take out an insurance
policy with terms defined by the leasing or financing company. If you
do, you'll find that the coverage they demand is steeper than the minimum
state demands when it comes to liability, and may be more than you would
have bought for a car where the choice was yours alone.
A similar high level of collision and comprehensive insurance may also
be required in a lease and/or a finance deal. What's more, the loan or
lease company may demand you set your deductibles at a fairly low rate
-- and that means you again pay a higher premium.
Make sure you take these fixed insurance costs into account when you
work out your lease or financing costs.
Compare and contrast
Don't think of insurance as a fixed-price, fixed-benefit item. Do some
comparison shopping between companies, and make sure to ask for all of
their options: policies can be assembled piece by piece, with different
prices for different coverages, a little more coverage in some places,
less in others. Make sure you get a policy package you are sure covers
you the way you need to be covered.
There are there a number of ways to bring coverage costs down without
giving up vital protection. One way to get the best deal is to let the
government help you: The Federal Consumer Information Bureau has created
a list called Nine Ways To Lower Your Auto Insurance. The FCIB details
ways to get more for less:
- Comparison shop.
- Ask for higher deductibles.
- Drop collision and/or comprehensive coverages on older cars.
- Eliminate duplicate medical coverages.
- Buy a "low profile" car.
- Consider area insurance costs if you are making a move.
- Take advantage of low mileage discounts.
- Find out about automatic seat belt or air bag discounts.
- Inquire about other discounts.
If you have any doubts about insurance requirements or laws in your state,
try the insurance industry's National Insurance Consumer Helpline (NICH)
at (800) 942-4242 or call your state's insurance department; go to it's
Web site for e-mail contact:
No-fault insurance
If you are in a state with "no fault" insurance regulations,
your coverage pays for your injuries no matter who was in the wrong in
an accident. The idea was to cut back on monster claim settlements and
bring down the cost of insurance, but you can still make a legal claim
against the other driver in some of these states.
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Intersection Errors..........Over 65%
of urban accidents occur at intersections. Look around very carefully.
Proceed with caution and don’t assume anything.
Inattention...............Not maintaining
close concentration on your own driving, other drivers, pedestrians, and
driving conditions.
Following too close...... A generally
safe and easy rule is to look at your speed in km and stay at least that
many feet behind the vehicle in front.
Vehicle Malfunction..... Have regular
checkups, particularly of wiper fluid, brakes , and tires, and replace
wiper blades whenever they are worn.
Maintain your vehicle and you may avoid and accident.
Dangerous Roads...Ice, snow, fog, and
rain conditions require slower speeds and much greater caution.
Unsafe Speeds... Exceeding speed limits,
or driving too fast for traffic conditions.Excessive speed reduces reaction
time and greatly increases impact and injuries.
Improper Lane Changes... Before you
change, check all mirrors, and signal long before you change. Also, watch
for the other vehicles.
These items may seem so simple and standard to drivers, but, in today's
driving world they are often overlooked ,forgotten or simply ignored.
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